The world did not end in the Year of Our Lord 1420. The Days of Wrath and Vengeance, heralding the Kingdom of God, did not arrive. Satan was not released from his prison to deceive the nations of the Earth. The sinners and opponents of God were not annihilated by sword, fire, famine, hail, the fangs of beasts, scorpion stings, or snake venom. The world did not perish and burn. At least not entirely.

Yet, it was still a merry time, especially for Reinmar of Bielawa, also known as Reynevan, a herbalist and learned medic, related to many of the mighty of the contemporary world. This young man, having fallen in love with the beautiful and spirited wife of a Silesian knight, experiences unforgettable moments of romantic elation. That is, until the relatives of the betrayed husband break down the doors and storm into the chamber. At that moment, Reynevan's merriment comes to an abrupt end.

Commenting on Reynevan's penchant for falling in love, the knight Zawisza the Black, "a knight without blemish or stain," remarked, "Oh, you won't die a natural death, young lad!" Zawisza, soon captured, is executed by the Turks. And what of Reynevan? We have two more volumes of the trilogy to find out.